Confession

MrsAmers · February 2013

Heather's birthday is Saturday. The only thing we have bought so far is a DVD. I have no real ideas or inspiration because she needs NOTHING. I'll probably end up getting her more Legos and/or art supplies at the last minute. Feeling rather uninspired.

Also, feeling a little annoyed about the onslaught of new toys to come. I really need to purge half the stuff in her room! Can't remember the last time she played with a baby doll...

bride2003 · February 2013

I make that same confession for my January child. Except I do usually buy more at Christmas and split the gifts so I have things for her. Usually its clothes. Our onslaught was not terrible this year, more people are tending towards the gift cards which I like!

egpitt22 · February 2013

I was nervous for the new toys from Jake's bday party (especially since I felt like I had just managed to get the new toys from Christmas under control), but I was pleasantly surprised. He received a number of books and art supplies, which don't take up much space...and even the toys that he received were all relatively small (superhero figures, some dress up costume items, puzzles, Legos, etc....) so it wasn't too big of a deal to store them. I guess the good thing seems to be that the older they get, the smaller the toys seem to get!

I hope the party is great!!

AmandaJLewis · February 2013

i have a lot of the same feelings, especially through the month of December and then January when I notice which of the new things are totally ignored. I have a box she helped me half fill of toys she doesn't want anymore. I am going to add a few more while she isn't looking and tape it up for play it forward next winter. she really has way more than she needs. And once summer rolls around she probably will be outside and not using any of the inside toys. (which helps keep the playspace clean!)

MrsAmers · February 2013

Part of the problem is that our art supply area is exploding and needs an overhaul. Not sure if I need to put half of it away for a while...or buy more bins. It's a mess.

And I've been wanting to clean it up for at least two weeks now....

lala5507 · February 2013

I do agree, the older dd gets the smalller the toys seem to get. I always struggle with buying gifts for my youngest. Because we have another daughter who is only 18 months older than her we have EVERYYTHING. Her birthday is the end of October, so I have to make sure I don't blow all my ideas on birthday and try to keep something for Christmas.

It's also hard having winter birthday kids because you can't really buy outside toys.

amyjoy18 · February 2013

Brinley's birthday is right around the corner too and I still feel like she hasn't had time to digest all the toys she got at Christmas. I bought a few extra things at Christmas time and saved them for her birthday. All things that don't take up much space.

Board games (she likes the Zingo games);

games for her innotab or v.reader;

books (we recently started reading chapter books together)

Outside toys that can be put away until spring/summer

Other non-toy ideas: clothes, fun rain boots/rain jacket; new bedding; fun pillows or other room accessories.

lishie · February 2013

Michael's birthday is in three weeks, and I feel the same way. We have so many toys it's not even funny. So far I've gotten us family tickets for Disney on Ice for "his birthday" since it's that weekend. I was also planning to get tickets to the PICT bubble show that was coming in March, and just yesterday I realized it's coming while we'll be in New York, so now I'm hunting for something we can all do there as a big present for him. We already do the Childrens' musuem there, so I'm looking for something else. Dang spoiled children

AmandaJLewis · February 2013

i just read a blog post yesterday about organizing vs purging. and how you cannot be organized without removing things. I feel like I am in a zone where I need to purge again.

egpitt22 · February 2013

So for those of you with younger kids, what do you do with the toys that your older child is no longer playing with? There are some things that Jake isn't into, and Liam isn't quite ready for yet, but honestly...it seems like a hassle to box them up, put them in the attic, then remember to get them down 6 months from now when he's ready for them. The lazy side of me just leaves them in the bins and piles more stuff on top of it. Embarrassed

lala5507 · February 2013

egpitt22:
So for those of you with younger kids, what do you do with the toys that your older child is no longer playing with? There are some things that Jake isn't into, and Liam isn't quite ready for yet, but honestly...it seems like a hassle to box them up, put them in the attic, then remember to get them down 6 months from now when he's ready for them. The lazy side of me just leaves them in the bins and piles more stuff on top of it.

Since my kids are so close in age they can basically share each other's toys. But I do put some toys away and every couple of months I rotate them. That helps to keep things fresh. I brought out the Little People fam and it was like a brand new toy all over again.

MrsAmers · February 2013

AmandaJLewis:
i just read a blog post yesterday about organizing vs purging. and how you cannot be organized without removing things. I feel like I am in a zone where I need to purge again.

I always purge every time I organize, but I find it hardest with useful things like art supplies and puzzles. I suppose I hate to part with anything that can keep my kids occupied for more than 5 minutes...

AmandaJLewis · February 2013

MrsAmers:
AmandaJLewis:
i just read a blog post yesterday about organizing vs purging. and how you cannot be organized without removing things. I feel like I am in a zone where I need to purge again.
I always purge every time I organize, but I find it hardest with useful things like art supplies and puzzles. I suppose I hate to part with anything that can keep my kids occupied for more than 5 minutes...

Well sometimes markers dry up, and paint colors get mixed, playdoh turns to rocks. Or color books are ignored for ones with new favorite characters. There is always room for some purging!

(says the girl who takes great pleasure in throwing things away)

JNK71083 · February 2013

I must be extremely mean because we ended up flat declaring a toy ban for the boys birthday in a couple of weeks. We are not big on parties though so this decision really only affects family. With this year being their first Christmas everyone went more than a little crazy buying for them. And since we alternatively asked for cash to to put toward a zoo membership which we plan to do at least two trips one with each side of the family to the zoo this summer they have all pretty much said they are ok with that. And any cash left over will be used to buy another set of car seats since they have almost maxed out their infant carriers.

AmandaJLewis · February 2013

JNK71083:
I must be extremely mean because we ended up flat declaring a toy ban for the boys birthday in a couple of weeks. We are not big on parties though so this decision really only affects family. With this year being their first Christmas everyone went more than a little crazy buying for them. And since we alternatively asked for cash to to put toward a zoo membership which we plan to do at least two trips one with each side of the family to the zoo this summer they have all pretty much said they are ok with that. And any cash left over will be used to buy another set of car seats since they have almost maxed out their infant carriers.

Not mean. Totally logical. Do it now, while they are young! It is easier to get away with that sort of thing.

gwennythepooh · February 2013

JNK71083:

I must be extremely mean because we ended up flat declaring a toy ban for the boys birthday in a couple of weeks. We are not big on parties though so this decision really only affects family. With this year being their first Christmas everyone went more than a little crazy buying for them. And since we alternatively asked for cash to to put toward a zoo membership which we plan to do at least two trips one with each side of the family to the zoo this summer they have all pretty much said they are ok with that. And any cash left over will be used to buy another set of car seats since they have almost maxed out their infant carriers.

Definitely not mean. When people asked what we could use for Claire last year for her 1st birthday, we said summer clothes. It was a great idea, she ended up with pretty much everything she needed and we weren't stuck trying to find room for more toys.

MandyMilller · February 2013

Amy, Wes's birthday is Friday and I'm in the same spot. I have two small toys I saved from Xmas to give him and that's it so far. I bought him spring clothes, but I doubt I'll even bother to wrap them. I asked our families to please buy him clothes or gift cards for Disney, but I know that they all are ignoring my pleas. I have no idea what I'll do with it all. Even in our new house I'm already out of places to put it.

Meghan&Rich · February 2013

Garrett's birthday was last weekend and we didn't get him anything. We took the boys to Toys R Us to pick out a couple toys, but used gift cards from Christmas. We just did a purge/re-org before Christmas and bought a new toy organizer, so I wasn't feeling particularly overwhelmed by the amount of toys, but there is truly nothing that either of the boys need right now. And to add to that, we didn't have a party either. We just went to the children's museum and had pizza and cake at home as a family. At first I felt guilty, but I actually enjoyed his birthday weekend so much more doing it that way.

MrsAmers · February 2013

Meghan&Rich:
Garrett's birthday was last weekend and we didn't get him anything. We took the boys to Toys R Us to pick out a couple toys, but used gift cards from Christmas. We just did a purge/re-org before Christmas and bought a new toy organizer, so I wasn't feeling particularly overwhelmed by the amount of toys, but there is truly nothing that either of the boys need right now. And to add to that, we didn't have a party either. We just went to the children's museum and had pizza and cake at home as a family. At first I felt guilty, but I actually enjoyed his birthday weekend so much more doing it that way.

yeah, even if the toys were fully purged and organized I still don't feel like we would need anything. The only thing H really wanted that we don't have is a jump rope and I let my aunt get that.

This is also why we are having a very small party at our house on Saturday. It will be more enjoyable for me than a crazy time with 20+ kids and 6 kids means fewer presents. :-)

I am going to buy H some pants for her birthday. Many of hers are suddenly looking like floods!

egpitt22 · February 2013

Meghan&Rich:
Garrett's birthday was last weekend and we didn't get him anything. We took the boys to Toys R Us to pick out a couple toys, but used gift cards from Christmas. We just did a purge/re-org before Christmas and bought a new toy organizer, so I wasn't feeling particularly overwhelmed by the amount of toys, but there is truly nothing that either of the boys need right now. And to add to that, we didn't have a party either. We just went to the children's museum and had pizza and cake at home as a family. At first I felt guilty, but I actually enjoyed his birthday weekend so much more doing it that way.

this is exactly what I have planned for Liam's birthday, too. It's in May, so we'll invite the grandparents, my BFF, and my brother and wife over for a cookout and some cake, and that's it. Depending on the weather, the next day we'll do either the zoo or children's museum. I'm looking forward to a low-key celebration!

gwennythepooh · February 2013

We're also going the low key route and I'm SO excited for it. I think the families wanted a party, but mama is tired and party planning takes a lot of work! We're going to do a day at Splash Lagoon just the three of us, I think it will be lovely:)

Meghan&Rich · February 2013

egpitt22:
Meghan&Rich:
Garrett's birthday was last weekend and we didn't get him anything. We took the boys to Toys R Us to pick out a couple toys, but used gift cards from Christmas. We just did a purge/re-org before Christmas and bought a new toy organizer, so I wasn't feeling particularly overwhelmed by the amount of toys, but there is truly nothing that either of the boys need right now. And to add to that, we didn't have a party either. We just went to the children's museum and had pizza and cake at home as a family. At first I felt guilty, but I actually enjoyed his birthday weekend so much more doing it that way.
this is exactly what I have planned for Liam's birthday, too. It's in May, so we'll invite the grandparents, my BFF, and my brother and wife over for a cookout and some cake, and that's it. Depending on the weather, the next day we'll do either the zoo or children's museum. I'm looking forward to a low-key celebration!

It was so nice! Like I said, at first I felt guilty, but it was a really enjoyable weekend because even though it was low-key, we still made sure to make it special and really focus on Garrett and spending time together (which of course we do anyway, but I didn't worry about any of the typical weekend responsibilities of cleaning/laundry/etc.). They are at the perfect age to do it that way! I'd love to do that with Mason too, but I know he would really enjoy having a party.

lishie · February 2013

Meghan&Rich:
egpitt22:
Meghan&Rich:
Garrett's birthday was last weekend and we didn't get him anything. We took the boys to Toys R Us to pick out a couple toys, but used gift cards from Christmas. We just did a purge/re-org before Christmas and bought a new toy organizer, so I wasn't feeling particularly overwhelmed by the amount of toys, but there is truly nothing that either of the boys need right now. And to add to that, we didn't have a party either. We just went to the children's museum and had pizza and cake at home as a family. At first I felt guilty, but I actually enjoyed his birthday weekend so much more doing it that way.
this is exactly what I have planned for Liam's birthday, too. It's in May, so we'll invite the grandparents, my BFF, and my brother and wife over for a cookout and some cake, and that's it. Depending on the weather, the next day we'll do either the zoo or children's museum. I'm looking forward to a low-key celebration!

It was so nice! Like I said, at first I felt guilty, but it was a really enjoyable weekend because even though it was low-key, we still made sure to make it special and really focus on Garrett and spending time together (which of course we do anyway, but I didn't worry about any of the typical weekend responsibilities of cleaning/laundry/etc.). They are at the perfect age to do it that way! I'd love to do that with Mason too, but I know he would really enjoy having a party.

We did that for Jackson's second and third birthday, and are doing it for Michael's second birthday as well. I definitely don't think that kids need a big party every year, and the family time is nice for everyone.

denalea · February 2013

Could some sort of toy organization be her present? Some new bins or a new way to keep art supplies? Then it would be killing two birds with one stone!

northhillsbride · February 2013

gwennythepooh:
JNK71083:

I must be extremely mean because we ended up flat declaring a toy ban for the boys birthday in a couple of weeks. We are not big on parties though so this decision really only affects family. With this year being their first Christmas everyone went more than a little crazy buying for them. And since we alternatively asked for cash to to put toward a zoo membership which we plan to do at least two trips one with each side of the family to the zoo this summer they have all pretty much said they are ok with that. And any cash left over will be used to buy another set of car seats since they have almost maxed out their infant carriers.

Definitely not mean. When people asked what we could use for Claire last year for her 1st birthday, we said summer clothes. It was a great idea, she ended up with pretty much everything she needed and we weren't stuck trying to find room for more toys.

I agree - so not mean!!! I had a chat with my Mom about 3 years ago about the obslaught of toys (and the fact that we call Gavin, "the destructor" for a reason). Now she gets the boys one toy or accessory (like, for the bike we bought him last year, she got him a water bottle, helmet and license plate) and puts whatever else she planned to spend into some sort of college fund for them. It's going to mean a lot more to us then!

MrsAmers · February 2013

I finished up my shopping before and during knit night last night. Heather is getting a DVD (Brave), 2 Star Wars books, 4 pairs of pants (Children's Place had mostly shorts - WTH?!?!), 3 cute pairs of socks and a necklace/bracelet set. Oh, and she's getting a nice party at home with decorations, crafts, favors and an ice cream cake.

It doesn't seem like much compared to the bike she got last year...but she doesn't need anything on par with a bike this year and I realize that I don't want her to always expect huge presents. A nice day with thoughtful gifts should be perfect!

lala5507 · February 2013

I think it sounds perfect! You are right, it can't be a big gift every year. I'm sure she will love the gifts and the party.

And yes, apparently it's crazy to want to buy pants in February. DD just had a growth spurt and needs some pants and it's hard to find just a pair of sweatpants.

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